Ruby Revenge

HIM

My head was still groggy from the sleeping pills as I watched Alex tear the house apart. Once he understood what Sage had done, there was no stopping his rage. The whiskey was dripping off the wall from where he’d thrown the bottle. He had gone to her room, searching for anything to tell him where she’d gone.

I glanced out the window as my dad pulled up. Three other men stepped out of the car with him, and I stood from the couch. I hoped by now she was somewhere she couldn’t be found. Because the group was going to use every resource they had to find her.

I checked my phone again, waiting for a text or call from her. I didn’t have the number for the phone she had. Her old phone was hidden away in my room. The front door opened, and I let my face go grave as I met my father’s gaze. I didn’t think it was possible for anyone to be angrier than Alex. But my dad’s eyes were burning with more rage than I’d ever seen.

“I knew this was going to happen,” he spat out as Alex emerged from the hall. “She should have been dealt with a year ago.”

“We’ll find her,” Alex snapped.

“I’ll go look at her old house in case she stopped there,” I told them, holding my hand out. “Let me use your Jeep.”

Instead of giving me the keys, he exchanged a look with my dad. I tilted my head in confusion as nerves brushed my confident act. Something was wrong. They were all staring at me without saying a word.

“What did you and Sage do when I left with Dad two nights ago?” Alex asked quietly.

“Watched a movie before she went to bed,” I answered, giving him a questioning glance, not letting my nerves get to me.

“The trip got postponed. I planned to come back home that night.”

I could see it on his face. He fucking knew.

“I trusted you with her,” Alex murmured as panic crawled through me. “You lived with us to make sure she stayed where she was supposed to. I noticed how she warmed up to you. She didn’t spend all day in the room anymore. I was happy and thought it would make all our lives easier. I never would have imagined that you were fucking her.”

The color drained from my face as my eyes went to my dad. Disappointment and betrayal were written all over his face. But not surprise. Alex had already told him. Fuck.

“Alex—”

“How long has it been going on?” Alex cut me off sharply.

I hesitated, debating on denying it. It was obvious he had proof, or he wouldn’t have told our dad.

“I came home in the middle of the night. Only to find her in your bed,” he said bitterly, his eyes filled with hate. “What a great fucking brother you are.”

“I’m sorry,” I pushed out with as much sincerity as I could muster. “We drank. And things went too far. That was the only time it happened.”

“The second I saw you two, I wanted to bust in there and kick your ass. But I stopped myself.” He looked at our dad again. “Because Sage isn’t just mine. Her life is owned by the group. So, I went back to Dad’s. And I waited. The elders told me to wait. Until a plan was in place.”

I gritted my teeth, realizing he’d been acting all weekend. And that was why he’d pushed me so hard about leaving with Dad. To separate me from her.

“I didn’t know what she was pulling with the marriage shit, but I went along with it,” Alex continued. “I didn’t fucking expect her to drug me.”

“How could you, Nikolas?” my dad asked, shaking his head. “Family is everything.”

“Sage must be pretty fucked up to sleep with you,” Alex muttered, his hands clenched into fists. “You were a part of Lacey’s ceremony.”

My anger surged. “I told you, it was a drunken mistake. My loyalty is still for my family. And the group.”

“Have you forgotten who you are?” Alex seemed like he was trying to comprehend why I’d done it. “You’ve helped with how many other ceremonies while we were growing up? Your name is signed in that book right next to mine. Although, over the last year, you really took a step back. At least now I understand why.”

“I raised my sons to be future leaders. What did I do wrong?” my dad said, stepping up beside Alex. I tensed, realizing what was happening. “What happened with Geoffrey? Were you protecting her somehow?”

“He attacked Sage. Exactly like I said. He fucking stabbed me,” I said gruffly, having no intention of ever telling them what really happened. “I don’t know where he is.”

“Give me your phone,” Alex demanded.

My gaze darted between him and my dad. I was grateful Sage had left already because I had a feeling they had been planning something for her. Alex had played into Sage’s act of wanting to get married when he was fully aware I had been sleeping with her.

“Are you expecting a call from her?” my dad snarled, his trust in me completely gone. “Did you help her leave?”

“I was drugged right along with Alex. I had no idea she was leaving.”

“How’d she get the pills, Niko?” Alex prodded. “You were the one with her all the time.”

“I don’t know.”

“Give me your phone,” Alex said again.

My jaw clenched as I pulled my phone from my pocket. I couldn’t take the chance that Sage would call or text if they had my phone. It could ruin whatever she was doing. Staring at Alex, I dropped my phone to the floor. Then I smashed my foot on top of it. I felt it crack under my shoe, and I stomped on it again for good measure.

“You son of a bitch,” Alex hissed. “You’d rather help her than your family?”

I saw his punch coming too late for me to dodge it. His fist collided with my cheek, and I charged forward, ready to fight back until the barrel of a pistol pressed into my chest. One of the men who had come with my dad kept the gun on me even as I backed up a step.

“Can’t fight your own battles, Alex?” I taunted as my chest heaved. “Come on. Fucking try to beat my ass and see what happens.”

“I don’t need to. The group has my back for anything I need. Too bad that’s not something you can count on anymore.”

“Your mother is already so heartbroken over Geo,” my dad muttered, looking pained. “Now her other son has betrayed us. You’ll stay in this house until the elders decide what’s going to be done with you.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll call and let you know when we find Sage,” Alex said with a small smirk.

Alex and my dad left the house while the other three men stayed. They looked at me like I was scum. Falling onto the couch, I ran my hands down my face. I really hoped Sage could pull off whatever she was planning without me. Because I was as fucked as she was now.